Vasectomy

What is a Vasectomy?

The vasectomy procedure is a minor surgical operation designed to offer a permanent form of contraception for men. Your surgeon will sever the tubes that carry the sperm in your testicles, preventing them from reaching your semen and ensuring that your partner cannot become pregnant.

This is currently the only other method of contraception available to men, beside the use of a condom. After you undergo the vasectomy procedure, neither you nor your partner should need to use further contraception to prevent pregnancy.

Why Choose a Vasectomy?

Vasectomy is a safe and reliable birth control choice for men who are certain they do not want any more children. In the UK between 17% – 21% of men have chosen this route for birth control.

The surgery is considered permanent, although you can opt for a reversal. However, this is a complex procedure and is not always effective. Before you make up your mind to go ahead with the surgery, ensure you have considered all your options and are completely sure.

Considerations to Bear in Mind

Vasectomy is more than 99% effective in preventing pregnancy

Vasectomy is a minor outpatient procedure with a low risk of problems or side effects following the surgery

A vasectomy removes the need to take birth control steps before intercourse, such as putting on a condom

Advantages and Disadvantages of a Vasectomy

Advantages

A vasectomy is more than 99% effective

Rare long-term effects on health

Does not affect sex drive or hormone levels

Disadvantages

A vasectomy does not protect against STI’s

Not easily reversible

Possible complications

Treatment

A vasectomy is performed on a day case basis and takes roughly 15-20 minutes to perform. There are 2 types of vasectomy available; a scalpel vasectomy and a no-scalpel vasectomy.

The procedure is performed by numbing the area by injecting the anaesthetic into the skin of your scrotum with a small needle. A small incision is made in the upper part of the scrotum once the area has been numbed (the no-scalpel technique makes a small hole in the scrotum instead of an incision).

Your doctor then locates the tube that carries semen from your testicle (vas deferens) and withdraws part of the deferens through the incision or hole. This is followed by cutting the vas deferens where it has been taken out of the scrotum and sealing/tying it using heat, surgical clips or a combination of methods. Your doctor will then return the ends of the vas deferens to the scrotum closing the incision using stitches or glue.

Patients who undergo the vasectomy procedure are usually able to return home on the same day. Your testicles will probably ache for a few days, but you should be able to return to normal activities within 2-3 days.

Recovery

Following the procedure, it is common to experience bruising, swelling and pain. Full recovery time can take up to 8 or 9 days, but it varies from patient to patient.

Make sure you support your scrotum with close-fitting underwear and a bandage for at least 48 hours following your vasectomy, applying ice as effective pain relief. You will need to rest for 24 hours following your surgery. You may be safe to do light activity within 2-3 days after your vasectomy but heavy lifting and sports need to be avoided for at least a week.

Avoid any sexual activity for at least a week. If you do ejaculate, you may experience pain or notice blood in your semen. If you have sexual intercourse, make sure you use a different form of contraception until your doctor confirms that sperm are no longer present in your semen.

Regular exercise should help you recover as quickly as possible. Before beginning a course of exercise though, consult your doctor for advice.

Complications

A vasectomy is generally a minor, low risk procedure but as with any surgery, there is always the possibility of complications. The biggest risk of this procedure is that you might change your mind; reversal surgery is more complicated than a vasectomy and can be ineffective in some cases. Complications following a vasectomy may include:

Infection

Bleeding inside the scrotum (haematoma)

Blood in your semen

Bruising and swelling of your scrotum

Mild pain or discomfort in your testicles

Hard lumps in your testicles (sperm granulomas)

Rare complications following a vasectomy may include:

Extreme pain (affecting 1%-2% of people)

Fluid build-up in the testicle causing a mild ache that gets worse with ejaculation

Pregnancy (should your vasectomy be ineffective)

Heaviness in your testicles (if the sperm collecting tubes called the epididymis, fill-up with stored sperm)

At One Healthcare we can book you in to see a specialist Urology surgeon for an initial consultation, usually within 48 hours. Vasectomy surgery is available at One Ashford Hospital in Kent and One Hatfield Hospital in Hertfordshire.

You can use your private medical insurance or pay for your Vasectomy treatment. We offer competitive, fixed price packages as well as the ability to spread your cost with the option of 0% finance. If you are using your health insurance please do contact your insurer first for approval and let them know you’d like to be treated at either the One Ashford Hospital or One Hatfield Hospital.

Why One Healthcare

Modern purpose-built hospital opened in March 2016 (Ashford) December 2017 (Hatfield)

Fast access to diagnostics including MRI, Xray and Ultrasound

Private, spacious, en-suite rooms

Specialist Physiotherapy and nursing teams

Little or no waiting time

‘Ultra clean air’ theatres

Freshly prepared food

Calm, dignified experience

Contact us and find out more

Contact our team to find out more information regarding private Vasectomy or to book an initial consultation.

If you live in and around the Kent area and would like to visit our One Ashford Hospital please click here

If you are based in and around Hertfordshire and would like to visit the One Hatfield Hospital please click here.

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